Method and means for furnace charging



Dec. 1,1925. 15633349 D. BAKER METHOD AND MEANS FOR FURNACE CHARGING Filed Dad. 7, 1923 4 SheetsShee-t 1 i iz'g. .17".

D. BAKER METHOD AND MEANS FOR FURNACE CHARGING Filed Dec. 7, 192.55 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 UI|/I/I/I/I//////////////////// anna 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 D. BAKER METHOD AND MEANS FOR FURNACE CHARGING Filed Deb. 7, 1923 Dec. 1, 1925- Dec. 1 1925- 1,563,949

D. BAKER METHOD AND mszms FOR FURNACE CHARGING Filed Dec. 7, 192.3 4 Sheets$heet. 4

Fig.5.

Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

METHOD AND MEANS FOR FURNACE CHARGING.

Application filed December 7, 1923. Serial No. 679,104.

To'aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Castle, New South Wales, Australia, have invented a new and useful Method and Means for Furnace Charging, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to furnace charging. The object is to provide improved method and means for charging furnaces with several materials in exact and required proportions and in even layers. The invention comprises method and means whereby the materials are assembled in evenly distributed layers and in required proportions, and then delivered in a body as a unit into the furnace, such as a oupola furnace, while maintainingsaid evenly distributed layers intact or undisturbed, which greatly facilitates the smelting operation.

The invention comprises improved method and means for assembling the materials from difierent sources of supply, into a common receiver or hopper and weighing each material as it is delivered to the receiver in order to secure an exactly measured mass or quantity thereof, and distributing said materials in even layers in the receiver and then delivering the entire assembled body of material into the furnace, while maintaining said even layer distribution of the said materials within the furnace.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate merely by way of example, suitable means for effecting my invention Fig. 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of means for delivering and assembling the several materials in the receiver or hopper.

Fig. 3 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the car for supporting the hopper during the loading operation, showing means for closing the bottom elements of the hopper and also means for rotating the hopper.

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the hopper.

5 is an underside plan of the hopper showing the latching means for the bottom elements.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of the hopper and means for releasing the bottom elements.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in part sec .5309 i d ra tel rat a V methods arewell known in the art.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the crane, transfor cars and a battery of furnaces.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a plurality of tracks 11 and 12 are provided. The tracks 11 are for cars 13 containing materials, such as pig iron, if desired of different varieties or grades. The track 12 is for the car 15 which supports the hopper 16. This track 12 has a section supported on the scale 17. A crane 18 is also shown comprising the up right or standard 1.9 and the horizontal arm 20. Upon the latter is mountedthe car 21 supporting the magnet 22. The magnet 22 is raised and lowered in thepresent example by the piston 23 connected by the pis ton rod 2 1 and operating in cylinder 25 to which is delivered as required a suitable fluid pressure in the well known manner. The trolley 21 is moved to and fro on the arm 20 in any desired manner, which forms no part of the present invention, as such The upright or standard 19 is pivotally seated in a suitable foundation as at 26 and is retated by the piston 27, operating in cylinder 28 connnected to the arm 29 by means of rod 30 and link 31. The arm 29 is adjustably but rigidly-secured to the standard 19 by any suitable means as for example by one or more set screws 82. It will thus be seen that the magnet 22 has a substantial range of movement from the supply cars 13 to the hopper 16 as indicatedby the full and dotted lines, Fig. 1, and the necessary vertical movement by the means shown in Fig. 2, so

that pigs may be lifted from any car 13 by the magnet 22 and deposited in the hopper 16, until the required charge of pig has bee accumulated in the hopper.

As above stated the hopper 16 is supported on the car 15 running on track 12, a sec-' tion of track 12 is supported on the scale17, so that as the pig is loaded into the hopper the scale 17 indicates when the proper amount by weight has been received. It

will be noted that the section of track 12' which is supported by the scale 17 is of sufticient extent to permit the travel of the car 15, into different positions; one, to receive the discharge from. chute 33 of bin 34. which contains material such as coke, and one to receive the discharge from chute 35 of bin 36, for material such, as stone, so that scyeral materials may be delivered to the hopper 16, in required order and in required quantities, as indicated by the scale 17. The car 15 is moved to proper positions on scale 17 by motor or any other of the usual ways The discharge from the bins 3d and 36 is controlled by suitable gates as at. 37 and 38.

The scale may of course be incorporated withthe car if preferred.

In order-to secure an even distribution of the different layers-of material, the hopper 16. is, adapted to be rotated periodically by the arrangement shown in. Fig. 3, in which thercar 15. supports a table 39 pivoted as at lO-and carrying the annular rack ll which meshes with thepinion 42:, which is driven by the. motor 43, controlled by the controller ll llhis platform .39 is also provided with the two arms 4b pivoted at 46 and normally supported by the springs 47,. The bottom elements, 418 ofv the hopper 1 6 are eccentrica l'ly hinged as at 49' so that while opening completely under thewe'ight of material discharging they will, normally hang at. an inclination to the perpendicular. When the hopper 1.6 is lowered toward the table 39, the bottomelement-s 48 engage the arms 45, sothat. the same are movedinto the closing position, in'wh'ich. position they are locked by the boltsi50 engaging the lugs 51 secured to the lower opposite edges of hopper 16, shown in Fig.5. These bolts 50 are moved i g t-he locking position by the increment of the. rod 5:1 connec d to the-yoke .5 provided with the rollers-.53. Thi rod: :51 is usually actuated manuall nto. loc kthe bottom elements 41-8 in closed position, by a suitable handle,- orglever not shown1 which engages the head 5.4-. on said. rodbjlj. When suitably charged; with theseve al e ents as. just, described. the. hopper '16 is raised from theplatforin .QfQar: 15. by the traveling: crane 5,5, traveling; on the: tracks 56, as shownin. Fig. '8; this crane. being; proyided with. the chain or rope 57 having, the yoke 58,.engagingthe tnunnions-59 of hopper 16.

Thecrane 55. deposits. the hopper 16 on a, car 60 supported on. the tracks 61. The car 60 is in .the form of. an open frame provided with seats, as at 62, for receiving the trunnions 59 so that. the hopperprojects down- Wardly; between thev wheels of the car 60. When. thehopper 1.6.is suitably hung onxits trunnions inear, 60, as shown in thetwo upper car-s of.v Fig. 7, the ,car is then pushed thronghxsuitable doors 63. over the furnace 64,.so, that the, hopper lfijwill register accurately Withtheopen: top of. the furnace 64 and. in close proximity thereto, .as show-nin Fig. '8. The. movement of thecar 60 into andawa-y tromathe position over the, furnace is secured by the voperation of piston operating in cylinder 66 and connected to the car 60 by the piston rod 67. These cylinders 6.6 are suppliechin the usual way, with fluid pressure.

hen a loaded hopper is positioned over the top of. the furnace as shown in Fig. 8, the rod 51' is operated'by a piston 68 operating in fluidpressure cylinder 69 and provided with the piston rod 70 adapted to engage the headbd: on rod 51. By pushing this rod 51 inwardly, the rollers 53 engaging the curved portions 71 of thebolts 50, cause the withdrawal of the bolts and the release of the hopper bottom elements 48, so that the same fall to a substantially verticalv posi tion. as. indicated in Fig. 6 and permit the discharge of the entire load into the furnace (i-fl in substantially vertical lines of travel, and so that the even layers-or strata. of material are delivered to the furnace without impairment or disarrang'ement.

It will be noted that cylinder 69 is provided with. fluid pressure pipes, one connected to each end of the cylinder (see Fig. The. preferred arrangement and open ation, is to. connect therewith the usual reversing; valve, not shown, whereby the actuation of the piston 68 is similar to the pneun'iatic hammer actuation. In other Words the rod 51 is givena hammer blow by piston rod 70, and the rod, 70 is immediately withdrawn after said blow, to permit the end of rod 51 to pass the end of rod 7 0, as the bottom elements lfil fall to open position, upon the disengagement of bolts 50.

il -hen a hopper is. thus discharged, it is withdrawn from, over the furnace intothe position shown with, respect. to. the two upper cars of Fig. 7 from which position the hopper-s arelifted the/crane. 5.5, and delivered hack to acar 1,5, to repeatdhe cycle.

ll- -hatl claim is:

l. The method of charging a furnace which. consists, in assembling a mass, consisting of a plurality of materials, in required proportions and in evenly distributed horizontal layers, and then depositing said mass into the furnace in substantially vertical lines, of travel while maintaining the layer formation .ofithomass as assembled.

2, "The method of charging a, furnace which consists. in assembling a mass, consisting of a plurality. of materials in required proportionsby weight, and. in evenly. distributedhorizontal layers, and then depositing said mass into the furnace in substan tially rertical linesof travel and reducing the, distance of travel to a. minimum while maintaining intact the layer formation of the mass as assembled.

' 3.. Themcthod of charging afurnace which. consists in assembling amass, consisting of a plurality-of materials in required proportions by weight, and, in evenly distributed horizontal layers, and then depositing said mass into the furnace in substantially vertical lines of travel While maintaining the substantial shape and layer formation of the mass as assembled.

-l-. The method of charging a furnace which consists in assembling a mass, consisting of a plurality of materials in required proportions and in evenly distributed horizontal layers, and then depositing said mass into the furnace in such manner that the entire mass shall move in substantially vertical lines.

5. The method of charging a furnace which consists in assembling a mass, consisting of a plurality of materials in required proportions and in evenly distributed horizontal layers, and then depositing said mass into the furnace in such manner that the entire mass shall move through an unobstructed path corresponding in cross-section to the horizontal cross-sectional areas of the mass and of the furnace.

6. In a furnace charging system, the combination of a hopper, means for delivering charges of pig thereto, means for delivering other materials to the hopper in required proportions and in evenly distributed layers, means for transporting the hopper to the furnace, and means for delivering the hopper contents to the furnace through a substantially vertical path of travel corresponding in cross-section to the full horizontal cross-sectional areas of the hopper and of the furnace in order that the charge may be deposited in the furnace Without disturbing its even layer formation.

7. In a furnace charging system, the combination of a hopper, means for delivering charges of pig thereto, comprising a magnet and means for moving the same, means for moving the hopper to different points of material discharge, means for rotating the hopper in order to secure even layers of material delivered thereto, means for transporting the hopper to the furnace, and means for delivering the hopper contents to the furnace through a substantially vertical path of travel of shortest possible length, said hopper corresponding in horizontal cross-section to the full horizontal cross-sectional interior area of the furnace in order that the charge may be deposited in the furnace Without disturbing its even layer formation.

8. In a furnace charging system, the combination of a hopper, means for delivering charges of pig thereto, means for moving the hopper to different points of material discharge, means: for rotating the hopper in order to secure even layers of material delivered thereto, means for Weighing the hopper during the delivery of material thereto, means for transporting the hopper to the furnace, and means for delivering the hopper-contents to the furnace through a substantially vertical path of travel, said hopper corresponding in horizontal cross-section to the full horizontal interior cross-sectional area of the furnace, in order that the charge may be deposited in the furnace Without disturbing its even layer formation.

DAVID BAKER. 

